When I write these blogs, I really try to keep things as light as possible, even when I’m telling you about a serious health issue that I’ve dealt with.
But sometimes, I’ve had such a negative experience with something, I’m afraid it will be hard to put a positive spin on things.
Sadly, such is the case with the story of my thyroid problem. Or, as it turns out, the lack thereof.
Let’s start at the beginning, by talking a bit about the small gland inside your neck that has a giant influence on your well-being. The thyroid is the barometer to your whole body. It has an enormous impact on your endocrine system and your overall health.
Unfortunately, it seems that many doctors don’t give it much credence, or perform the proper tests to make sure it’s functioning as it should. At least, that was the case with me.
Like so many of my health problems, my thyroid story goes back to when I had my hysterectomy and my hormones were all out of whack. I was having some symptoms that were compatible with an over-active thyroid (things like sluggishness, sleeplessness, cognitive issues like decreased concentration, etc.), so I was given a blood test, diagnosed with a hypothyroidism and put on medication for it.
At the time, I wasn’t as into patient advocacy as I am now, so I confess I didn’t do any research on the subject or the test I had done and I didn’t get a second opinion. I accepted my doctor’s diagnosis as fact and began taking the medication.
Since that time, I’ve done a ton of reading and research on this matter, and I now know that I should have been given a comprehensive blood test that measured three very important things: a thyroid-stimulating hormone, or TSH test, that measures your level of this particular hormone, and also thyroid hormone tests that measure amounts of 2 hormones called T3 and T4. These 3 tests are conducted using a simple blood draw.
Ideally, your doctor should also give you a pretty good amount of water to drink and palpitate or feel your neck while you are swallowing. This will allow him or her to check your thyroid’s size.
Sadly, this is not what happened with my case. In my next blog, I’ll continue with the story of what happened with me and my thyroid. In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you, and how your physician checks your thyroid when you go in for a check up.
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Add a Comment14 Comments
Thank you so much for this blog. It's enlightening and this one especially hits a nail on the head. I look forward to reading more from you.
December 20, 2010 - 6:26amThis Comment
hi have been having lots of pain for over a year had lots of heart tests,all normal.I blood tests done and i have border line over active thyroid,looking up on symptoms i do have some .my doctor is going to do more blood test this month to see how my levels are ,other then taking blood the doctor never asked or did any thing eles
August 4, 2010 - 8:24amI'm a bit surprised to see in the title of this story the words, "Saliva tests." A test like that is absolutely, positively never used to determine the state of someone's thyroid!
If any of the doctors on this site would use such a test then they are doctors that thyroid patients should avoid.
Thank you.
July 25, 2009 - 7:42amOh, never mind. I can see this website is nutty anyway. (There is no such thyroid disease as something called "Wilson Syndrome.")
July 25, 2009 - 7:48amI cheated on my thyroid labs and drank coffee (black) the morning of my tests. I've been started on Levothyroxine (0.05mg) but I suspect my tests weren't accurate. Thanks to these notes, I will find out what the VA (Veterans Administration) testing included. As to my Dr. exam, she briefly touched my throat in my post-lab exam checking for a goiter or something. I missed 4 days of the meds while waiting for the refill from the VA. I don't know if I should continue the meds while I seek a second opinion. At least this time I'll know more of what I'd like in the lab work. Thanks for the insight, Linda
July 17, 2009 - 1:25pmMake sure that your doctor is checking for FREE T4 and FREE T3. The "FREE" denotation is very important...our hormones cirulate in our blood bound to protein and free frrom protein. When the hormone is bound to protein, it is not active and therefore not a value we really want to check. If your doctor is ordering FREE hormone your are testing for the active amount of hormone in your bloodstream...a much more acurate test.
July 15, 2009 - 4:42amMy TSH is 9.83 my doctor told me to come back in six months said I had Lupus. I went to see a doctor for Lupus she said not lupus an extremely low thyroid. I am going to doc tomorrow hopefully he gives me meds I feel awful hair is falling out have no energy I am 25yrs old weight hasn't changed 120lbs and 5'7' I guess because of weight maybe he thought I was fine. But he has a lot of explaining to do.
July 12, 2009 - 11:07pmJust wanted to clarify here. You said you have hypothyroidism, but said you have an over-active thyroid. I think you meant to say you have an under-active thyroid. An over-active thyroid would be hyperthyroidism.
July 6, 2009 - 11:38amI am 71 years old, women and my TSH is 9.9 and I have no symptoms at all. I am healthy happy person.
June 27, 2009 - 3:57pmMy doctor wants me to have all these tests, and I will not have them. About 3 or 4 years ago, he told me again about my THS tests, so I went to the medicine shop and bought natural, stuff for the Thyroid.
After about 2 months, my throat felt like it was pulling in front, so I stop and it took me 2 or 3 months
to withdraw from them, it only told me that I mite not have Thyroid problems. I only take natural vitamins for my health. Thank you, Barbara
9.9 is not good you could go into a coma if it reaches above 10 you need to get your levels down.
July 12, 2009 - 11:11pm